Newbury Spring Festival events devised with children in mind to introduce the next generation to live music

trish.lee@newburynews.co.uk

Published: 03:00, 17 April 2024

Family & Children Shows at Newbury Spring Festival this May

At Newbury Spring Festival, which runs from May 11-25 May, there’s plenty on offer for families; shows specially devised with children in mind to introduce the next generation to live music through audience participation, imagination and plenty of fun.

This year, younger children can be immersed in stories of groovy pirates, Thumbelina and Wind in the Willows, all underpinned by lovely music.

Families can explore the world from Thumbelina’s perspective on Sunday, May 12 at Sheepdrove Organic Farm with Grieg’s music played by two world-class pianists, Elena Zozina and Mikhail Kazakevich, and with narration by Richard Morris.

After their popular performance last year, Newbury Spring Festival will welcome back Toscana Strings who will take us on a musical journey through Wind in the Willows (Saturday, May 18, Corn Exchange Newbury) with a real ballet dancer teaching the steps.

On Saturday, May 25, children and their grown-up crewmates can set sail with groovy pirates in the Corn Exchange with the family favourite Groove Baby - jazz and funk will bring this swashbuckling adventure to life.

For families with older children, Flowers Band will be performing recognisable brass favourites at the Corn Exchange on Sunday, May 19, suitable for the whole family.

On Thursday, May 16, comedy string quartet Graffiti Classics will wow audiences with their hilariously entertaining show, which is bound to get the Corn Exchange laughing, clapping and singing along.

School and community music groups will also take to the Corn Exchange stage with Good Vibes Music Academy in a jubilant celebration of local talent on Monday, May 20.

There are opportunities for budding writers to get involved with the festival too with the Festival’s Young Critics competition, which Newbury Spring Festival runs in conjunction with Good Vibes Music Academy and St Gabriel’s School. Young audience members can write a review of any event from this year’s festival and submit it to the team at Newbury Spring Festival by June 15.

There are three categories: age 5-8 years old, age 9-11 years old and age 12-18 years old with prizes including: an invitation to the Newbury Spring Festival Gala Dinner to receive their Young Festival Critic Certificate; the opportunity to meet and interview one of next year’s artists before the 2025 Newbury Spring Festival; the opportunity to work with Trish Lee, arts editor at Newbury Weekly News to write and publish another concert review; an invitation to present a concert review live on Kennet Radio; and four free lessons in either piano, guitar, drums, vocal OR DJ lessons at the GVMA studio worth £110.

Newbury Spring Festival also hand-picks a number of events every year which under 30s can attend for free. This year’s events include Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers (Tuesday, May 14, Corn Exchange), Takács Quartet (Thursday, May 16, St Mary’s Church, Shaw), The Sheepdrove Recital (Friday, May 17, Sheepdrove), Newbury Spring Festival Chorus (Friday, May 17, St Nicolas Church, Newbury), Catrin Finch & Aoife Ni Bhriain (Tuesday, May 21, Donnington Priory), The Telling (Wednesday, May 22, Corn Exchange), Joe Stilgoe Trio (Friday, May 24, Corn Exchange), Emma Johnson and the Orchestra for the Environment (Friday, May 24, St Lawrence’s Church, Hungerford).

The Festival is committed to music education for children and the community. For many years now school children have been invited to attend performances and join in with a variety of workshops completely free-of-charge, with some events open to people of all ages. This year, the Festival will present a number of educational events for local pupils with artists from the main programme including Flowers Band, Ballet Central, Graffiti Classics, National Youth Jazz Orchestra, Jonathan Mayer and Kousic Sen, and Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers.

Tickets on sale via the Corn Exchange box office newburyspringfestival.org.uk

Events Listings

Sound Beginnings: Thumbelina

Sunday 12 May, 11am & 2.30pm

Sheepdrove Organic Farm, RG17 7UU

Musical story-telling for the young! The story of Thumbelina, with Grieg’s music played by pianists Elena Zozina and Mikhail Kazakevich, is presented with narration by singer Richard Morris.

Tickets: Adults £10 / Over 5s £7 / Under 5s free

https://cornexchangenew.com/event/sound-beginnings-thumbelina

Graffiti Classics

Thursday 16 May, 7.30pm